Burning Temptations

Chapter 1: Unlocked Desires

The sharp click of my heels echoed through the empty hallway as I stormed out of Maxwell’s office, my blood boiling with a cocktail of rage and something darker, something I refused to name. Camilla’s smug smirk and Maxwell’s piercing gaze burned into my memory. I’d caught them mid-act, her lips still glistening as she wiped them with a taunting finger. 'Hello, what’s her name again?' she’d purred, perched on his lap like a trophy. I didn’t give her the satisfaction of a response. Instead, I tossed out a biting, 'I can see you’re busy. Carry on, I’ll find my way home.'

Her reply dripped with venom. 'Good for you, because my baby and I are just getting started, and we’re going to be here for a very long time.' The emphasis on 'very' was a deliberate jab, but I turned on my heel and left before I could do something I’d regret. Maxwell meant nothing to me. Nothing. I repeated the mantra as I grabbed my bag from my office and headed out into the cool night air.

Adele’s place was my sanctuary. When she opened the door, her face was a storm of irritation, but it softened when she saw me. I spilled everything over a glass of wine, my voice sharp as I recounted the scene. 'What audacity,' Adele snapped, her eyes flashing. 'So he gets to sleep around while you play the loyal wife?'

I smirked, leaning back on her couch, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass. 'We didn’t sign for better or worse, darling. I can do whatever I damn well please. Which is why I’m here. Let’s go out tonight. I need to shake off this frustration, maybe find a hot stranger to clear the cobwebs down here.' I gestured playfully toward my body, and Adele’s mischievous grin mirrored my own.

'Girl, I’m in. Let’s get dressed,' she said, already halfway to her closet. The club wasn’t packed, just a smattering of bodies swaying under dim lights. I scanned the room, sipping my drink, looking for someone—anyone—who could match the fire I felt inside. But no one measured up. My mind kept drifting to Maxwell, damn him. Adele and I danced, laughed, and drank, but the night fizzled out. 'Another night with my vibrator,' I muttered under my breath as we drove back. It had been five years since I’d felt a real man’s touch—Maxwell’s touch—and my body ached for something wild, something raw.

Adele dropped me off in front of the house. 'If your husband throws you out, don’t hesitate to call me,' she teased.

'He’s busy with Camilla. He won’t even notice I’m gone,' I shot back, hugging her before stepping out. But when I reached the door, my key wouldn’t turn. I banged on it, frustration mounting. Had Maxwell changed the locks? Ten minutes of futile pounding later, I was ready to call Adele to come get me. I’d make him beg for months before I’d step foot in this house again.

Then the door swung open. Maxwell stood there, shirtless, grey sweatpants hanging low on his hips. My anger dissolved for a split second as my eyes roamed over his chiseled chest, down to the unmistakable outline of his cock straining against the fabric. This—this was what I’d been craving at the club. I snapped out of it, glaring at him. 'Why did you change the damn locks?'

His voice was low, dangerous. 'Why are you just coming home at this hour?' I pushed past him, but in a blur, he had me pinned against the wall, his body caging mine. His breath was hot against my ear as he growled, 'Answer me, Amelia. Where are you coming from, dressed like this?'

I tilted my chin defiantly, meeting his gaze. 'None of your damn business. You don’t get to play the jealous husband while Camilla’s warming your lap.' My words were sharp, but my body betrayed me, heat pooling between my thighs as his hard frame pressed closer.

His smirk was infuriating. 'Jealous? I’m not the one storming in here looking like I’m ready to fuck the first man I see.' His hand slid down my side, teasing the edge of my dress. 'But if that’s what you want, I’m right here.'

My breath hitched, but I wasn’t about to let him win. 'Keep dreaming, Maxwell. I don’t need your leftovers.' Yet even as I said it, my body screamed for him, my skin prickling with need. I could feel him, hard and ready against me, and the air between us crackled with unspoken hunger. One wrong move, and we’d ignite.